Forward calls ECHL All-Star selection 'honor'

STOCKTON - Justin Maylan came into his rookie season hoping he could do something special.

Scott Linesburgh

STOCKTON - Justin Maylan came into his rookie season hoping he could do something special.

Consider the goal achieved: The Thunder forward is an All-Star.

Maylan will represent Stockton at the ECHL All-Star festivities at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. The skills competition will be held at 6:05 p.m. today and the All-Star Game will face off at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.

Maylan, 22, was chosen to replace Thunder forward Toni Rajala, who has been called up to Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League. Stockton defense-man Nathan Deck was named a starter but also is with the Barons and will not participate.

"It's going to be a really cool experience," Maylan said. "I'm very honored because they could have picked a lot of other guys that could have gone. It's something that I've never done before."

Maylan is tied with Gwinnett's Doug Jones for the lead in ECHL rookie points (34), is second in shots (121), fifth in rookie goals (15), third in power play assists (nine), and fourth in power play points (12). He likely would have made the All-Star team earlier under its old format, where the American and National conferences played each other. But now one All-Star squad plays the host team, which this season is the Colorado Eagles.

But now that Maylan is in the game, Thunder coach Matt Thomas said he should enjoy himself and remember that there are plenty of NHL scouts at these events.

"He's deserving, obviously, and he's got to go in and work hard and have fun," Thomas said. "It's a prospects game as much as an All-Star game.

"It's one of those opportunities to show how good he is compared to the other top players in the league."

Maylan was an elite scorer in juniors, earning 89 points (26 goals, 63 assists) in 89 games with Prince Albert in 2011-12. He had to adjust to the professional game, and after playing the first weekend of the season, Thomas sat him out the second weekend and told him he needed to lift his game to the next level.

"I issued him some challenges," Thomas said "And I'll tell you, when you issue a player a challenge and they can make the changes in their game immediately, you know you have a special player."

Maylan said he's learned a lot and is looking forward to representing the Thunder. And his teammates are rooting for him.

"The team is proud of him, and we're happy to see him go there," forward Matt Bergland said. "He's played well and had a great season, and he is deserving of the honor."